Lost confidence cornering

Hi guys

I binned my bike just before christmas. Was about 20-30mph, the classic winter roundabout loss of grip. It was very cold so most likely ice or a diesel spill on cold tyres (happened 1min into ride home from work). I've finally got the bike back like new, put a tasty new Pirelli Diablo on the front to replace the old Dunlop, mostly for peace of mind.

However, I've been out on a few rides now in dry daytime conditions (today's weather was perfect) and my cornering has gone to pot. I have lost all confidence in leaning the bike over. No trust in my tyres, even though I know it was a slippy night when I crashed. Before the crash I could rail corners so nicely, got to the point where I was trying for knee downs! Now there's no chance of that. In fact, the way I'm now taking roundabouts (of which I now seem to have a phobia) I think it's dangerous as I'm tightening up my body and steering. Has anyone else experienced this post-crash drop in confidence? Any tips for getting over it? It's getting me down and taking away the enjoyment of riding

Get out and ride.

Simple as that.......

Well, know that your tyres wont have heat in after 1 minute in winter give them time to warm up. From your previous confidence, you may be aware that gripping the handlebars makes the bike harder to turn; relax your body, grip the tank with your knees a bit more (take weight off your wrists) and also carry a bit of positive throttle through the corner - rolling off completly will put all the weight on the front, and give you an understeering feeling (or so I have noticed). I've also noticed it helps to drop the elbow on the inside of the bend you are taking towards the inside of the corner, it encourages you to relax your arms. Dont sit right up agains the tank, as your body dosnt hang off the bike, it more rotates around the tank.

You know you can go round corners with confidence; you've done it before there is grip on winter roads, as long as you relax and dont try too hard too soon

Matt

As ASM said but if your not relaxed when you ride your bike it will make it harder to ride, your tyres are fine. I noticed when I was learning to ride last year when I was tense riding well just didn't work!

If I were you I would find a quite bit of road or an empty car park and patices turnng, leaning the bike, stopping the bike, emergency stop, then go for a ride. Then ride as much as you can.

I'm no expert at all, but its what I would do.

If your anywhere near, north london, herts/bucks or coming this way, I will go out for a ride with you, like I said i'm not an expert as other on here are, but I will ride for hours fun.

Best of luck, but ride your bike and have fun

I think tomorrow after work (knock off at 1pm) I will seek a quiet bit of warm tarmac and try to teach myself that my tyres will grip! Just need to get over my fear of the front end giving without warning like it did. You're right, i really need to relax. I'm half considering taking a refresher lesson or something.

Cheers Bluethunder, I'm in Bristol though! Quite some way away. Got some lovely roads over in wales nearby. May have to visit them tomorrow afternoon. Bristol traffic is not the most confidence-inspiring!!!

If you crash, then its only natural that your confidence is knocked.

After a bit of time in the saddle it will all come back, especially on gorgeous days like today/tommorrow.

[the_lone_wolf]

definately spend some time riding roads you know and like, don't push it, just let the confidence come back - then go back to the place you crashed and "face your demon" so to speak. i've yet to bin my bike but i've had wobbly moments at some junctions and run wider than i'm comfortable with on some corners, so i go back and ride them again and again until i know what i did wrong, and how i can not have it happen again

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

definately spend some time riding roads you know and like, don't push it, just let the confidence come back - then go back to the place you crashed and "face your demon" so to speak. i've yet to bin my bike but i've had wobbly moments at some junctions and run wider than i'm comfortable with on some corners, so i go back and ride them again and again until i know what i did wrong, and how i can not have it happen again

Every time i ride past the junction where i was SMIDSY'd, i'm like a meerkat.

I know how you feel when you say you have lost confidence, my front tyre slid away from me and I just about caught it and managed to stay upright, the rest of the ride home was slooooooooooow!

I couldn't stop thinking about it when going into bends but after a while the confidence came back, it was purely about putting in the miles in good conditions. I'm still not the most confident in the bends but it coming together the more I ride. Had a run out today and the front felt glued to the road